Railway vehicle



March 2, 1937. A. W. BRUCE RAILWAY VEHICLE Filed Dec. 2e, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet l lNvENToR A/ /fea' WIB/'ace SLX@ ATTv RNEY March 2, 1937. A. w. BRUCE RAILWAY VEHICLE Filed Dec. 2e), 1935 2 sheets-sheet 2 xNvENToR /l/ real WB/uce BY Patented Mar. 2, 1937 PATENT OFFICE RAILWAY VEHICLE Alfred W. Bruce, New

York, N. Y., assignor to American Locomotive Company, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application December 26, 1935, Serial No. 56,157

9 Claims.

This invention relates to railway vehicles, and more particularly to axles therefor and springs supported by said axles for supporting the frame constructions of the vehicles.

Vf The principal object of the invention is to provide a spring assembly carried by an axle as aforementioned including at least one leaf spring and at least two helical springs in paralle with the leaf spring, all of said springs being supported `by an axle, in part or entirely through the intervention of a rigid beam forming part of the assembly, and supporting said frame construction through the intervention of hangers connected to said frame construction at their .15 lower endportions and supported at their upper portions, each by one of said helical springs and "by said leaf spring Vat an endl thereof.

Other objects of and ladvantages achieved by this invention will be apparent from the follow- ,20 ing description when `considered in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In Athe accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a diagrammatic side elevation of a locomotive .embodying the present invention applied to a rear truck axle of the locomotive; Fig. 2, at the right,

is a side elevationand, at the left, a partial section on the line II-II of Fig. 3, of longitudinal halves of the spring assembly of the present invention shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3, at the right, is an end View of a transverse half of Fig. 2 and, at the left, a section of a transverse half of Fig. `2 on the line III-III thereof, certain parts of the truck being shown in Figs. 2 and 3 Vin dot and dash lines; Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic side elevation of a locomotive embodying the present invention applied to a driving Aaxle of the locomotive; Fig. 5, Vat the right, is a side elevation, and, at the left, a partial section on the line V-V of Fig. 6, of longitudinal halves of the spring assembly of the present invention shown in Fig. 4; and Fig. 6, at the right, is an end view of a `transverse half of Fig. 5 and, at the left, a section of a Vtransverse half of Fig. 5 on theline VI-VI thereof, certain parts of the locomotive being shown in Figs. 5 and 6 in dot and dash lines.

Referring more particularly to Figs. l to 3, the locomotive here shown diagrammatically is indicated generally by the reference numeral I,

and only parts thereof necessary for a clear understanding of the present invention will be spevcifically referred to.

The locomotive shown is of a conventional type, the well-knownparts being merely indicat- 55 ed. It comprises a main frame 2, the usual journal boxes 3 housed for vertical movement in side members 4 of the frame 2, driving axles 5 supporting the respective journal boxes, driving wheels 6 carried by said axles, a trailing truck, indicated generally by the numeral 1, comprising a frame 8, swivelled at its front end to the frame 2 in the usual manner, which, together with the frame 2, provides the frame construction for the locomotive superstructure, journal boxes 9 housed for vertical movement in the 'frame 8, and a wheeled axle II) supporting the journal boxes 9, the wheels of the axle I0 being disposed at the inner sides of the sides of the frame 8.

The locomotive further comprises .at each side thereof a spring rigging, indicated generally by the numeral II, The rigging (only one being shown and described) is of usual construction and comprises a leaf spring I2 mounted on each of the driving axle journal boxes 3 by means of a spring saddle I3, equalizing levers I4 disposed between adjacent ends of the springs I2, fulcrumed at I5 to the adjacent frame sidemember 4 and connected at their ends to the adjacent ends of the springs by hangers I6, a hanger 25 I I'connected at its upper end to the front end of the foremost spring I2 and at its lower end to the adjacent frame side member 4, a hanger I8 connected at its upper end to the rear end of the rearmost spring I2, a lever I9 fulcrumed to the truck frame 8 at 20 and connected at its forward end to the lower end of the hanger I8, and a spring assembly which is an exemplilcation of the spring assembly 2l of the present in'- vention, carried by the journal box 9comprising 35 the springs and certain associated parts, later to be described, and hangers 22 and 23, the hanger 22 being supported at its upper portion by the springs of the assembly 2| at the forward end thereof, and connected at its lower end to the rear end ofthe lever I9, and the hanger 23 being supported at its upper portion by the springs of the assembly 2l at the rear end thereof, and connected at its lower end to the truck frame 8. The frame 2 is supported upon the truck frame 8 at its rear end by the usual supporting means, indicated at 24.

Now describing in detail the embodiment of the spring assembly 2| of the present invention, shown more particularly in Figs. 2 and 3, it is to be noted that this embodiment is shown in connection with the truck axle I0 only. It comprises a rigid beam 25 which is supported at its central portion by the journal box 9. A seat 26 is formed on the top of the journal box for this purpose and a plate 21, secured to the beam by welding, has a rounded bottom surface which rests upon the seat 28, in coacting relation therewith, to permit slight tilting of the beam relative to the box in a vertical plane when necessary. The box is provided with upstanding flanges 28 overlapping opposite sides of the plate 21 to prevent horizontal longitudinal displacement of the beam.

The beam in this embodiment comprises a straight horizontal bottom plate 29 and is channel-shape in cross section, having upstanding strengthening side plates 30 providing a housing forthe springs later to be described. The side plates are relatively low at their end portions and increase in height from the respective end portions to the center, thereby providing great strength for the beam. The beam is further provided with strengthening end flanges 3| connected to the bottom plate, and at their ends connected to the side plates. The beam is disposed between extensions 32-32 formed on the sides of the frame 8 which prevent horizontal transverse displacement of the beam.

A semi-elliptic leaf spring 33 is disposed at its central lower portion within the housing With its central portion spaced above the central portion of the plate 29. The spring comprises a series of plates 34, in the main gradually decreasing in length from the top to the bottom and symmetrical at each side of the vertical transverse plane of the spring, thereby providing a bottom, the portions of which on each side of the center portion diverge upwardly towards the ends of the spring, providing at each end a space of increased height between the end of the spring and the adjacent end of the plate 29. The spring is, in the main, of usual construction. It comprises a spring band 35 which is provided at its bottom face with a cylindrical concave surface 36 extending in a direction transversely of the spring. A block 31, disposed below the band 35, is secured to the plate 29 by welding, and is provided at its top with a cylindrical concave surface 38 opposite the cylindrical surface 36. A roller 39 is disposed between the two cylindrical surfaces, providing a seat for the spring 33 for support of the spring by the journal box, and providing for coaction of said surfaces to permit slight tilting of the spring relative to the box in a vertical plane when necessary.

A spring seat 4U is formed on the plate 29 at each end thereof. A spring 4I of the helical type is supported on each of the seats 40. While a single helical spring or a compound helical spring of any of the various types may be employed at each end, in the present instance two helical springs are employed at each end, an inner helical spring 42 and an outer helical spring 43. A cap 44, having a groove 45 formed on its upper face running in a direction transversely of the beam and a slot-like orifice 46 running in a direction longitudinally of the beam, is mounted on each of the springs 4|. Each cap has a downwardly extending circular flange 41 encircling the spring 4| to aid in holding the spring in place.

The assembly 2l further comprises the hangers 22 and 23 before referred to. The spring 33 at each of its end portions is provided with a slotlike orifice 48 in line with the adjacent orifice 46, and a hanger clip 49 of usual construction having the usual depression for a gib and a slot-like oriflee for a hanger is mounted upon the spring at each end with its orice in line with the adjacent orices 46 and 48. A slot-like orifice 50 is prothe spring 4I at the forward end of the spring assembly and has an upper end portion extending above the adjacent clip 49. An orifice is formed in this upper end portion adjacent the de pression in the adjacent clip 49 and engages a gib 5I of usual construction, which is seated at its end portions in the depression provided in the clip, whereby the hanger is supported by the spring 33. with another orifice adjacent the groove 45 of the adjacent cap 44, and engages a gib 52 which is seated at its end portions in the groove 45, whereby the hanger is supported by the spring 4| adjacent thereto.

The hanger 23 is mounted similarly to the hanger 22, extending downwardly through the orifices and the spring 4| at the rear end of the spring assembly, and has an upper end portion extending above the adjacent clip 49. Orices arel formed in the hanger 23 similar to those formed in the hanger 22 for similar gibs 53, 54 which similarly respectively engage the clip 49 and cap 44 respectively adjacent thereto. The lower end portions of the hangers 22 and 23 may be secured in any suitable manner directly to the truck frame 8, or through intermediaries as the case may require, for supporting the desired portion of the weight of the superstructure upon the axle I9. In the present instance, as before stated, the lower end portion of the hanger 22 is pivotally secured to the rear end of the lever I9, and the lower end portion of the hanger 23 is pivotally secured directly to the truck frame 8.

Referring now more particularly to the second embodiment of the invention shown in Figs. 4 to 6, here the spring assembly is designed principally for use in connection with driving axles. The construction of the locomotive shown in Fig. 4 is, in the main, similar to that shown in Fig. l. Therefore as to similar parts similar reference numerals are applied and these parts will require no further description.

Coming now to the spring rigging, this, in general, is similar to that shown in Figs. 1 to 3 but the beam and hangers are somewhat different. The spring rigging is indicated generally by the reference numeral I I and comprises spring assemblies 2 I', later more fully to be described, one disposed over each of the driving axles 5, the rigging including a plurality of hangers I6 and hangers I1 and I8', all connected at their upper portions in a manner similar to the hangers 22 and 23 of the first embodiment, and having connection at their lower end portions similar respectively to the hangers I6, Il and I8 of said rst embodiment, adjacent hangers I6 being pivotally connected at their lower end portions to levers I4, hanger I1 being pivotally connected at its lower end portion directly to the frame side member 4, and hanger I8 being pivotally ccnnected at its lower end portion to the forward end of the lever I9.

The truck 1 is similar to the truck of the rst embodiment except instead of using a spring assembly of the present invention a usual type of semi-elliptic spring 55 is employed in supporting engagement with the journal box 9. The spring 55 is connected at its opposite ends to hangers 55, the forward hanger 55 being pivotally connected at its lower end to the rear end of the lever I9, and the rear hanger 56 being pivotally connected at its lQWCI.' 6nd directly to the frame 8.

The hanger is formedy Referring more particularly to the springassembly 2l of this embodiment, this assembly differs very little from the assembly 2| and accordingly similar parts bear similar reference numerals and will require no further description.

This spring assembly is designedparticularly for mounting it upon the spring saddle of the journal box 3 of a driving axle 5. And in order to econornize on vertical space, as the space in this particular location is often limited, the central portion `of the beam 25' is considerably'raised above the end portions of the beam to enable the beam to be mounted upon the saddle, which is of considerable height, Without correspondingly raising the spring assembly as a whole, as would otherwise be the case if the bottom plate 29 were straighhas in the iirst emboidiment. This bottom plate29 accordingly comprises a raised seat-p-roviding central portion l, seat-providing end portions'58 disposed belowthe central portion 51 and Wall portions 5B extending respectively from the opposite ends of the portion 51 downwardly to the inner end of the portion 58 adjacent thereto. To `compensate for the raising of the central portion 51 the block 31 is given a correspondingly less height than the block 31,.

The plate 2l seats upon the spring saddle I3. The saddle is provided with upstanding flanges 2B' overlapping two of the sides of the plate 21' oppositely disposed to each other, to hold theV spring assembly against horizontal longitudinal movement, and the plate v2l at its other two sides is provided with downwardly projecting flanges 60 which engage shoulders 6I formed in the ad- -jacent sides of the saddle to hold the spring assembly against horizontal transverse movement.

`While in each embodiment only one side of the locomotive has. been particularly described it will be understood that both sides of the locomotive are similar, and while the invention has been described in connectionwith a locomotive it will be understood that it is applicable, where appropriate, to other railway vehicles, and may be applied in the same locomotive to both the rear truck and the driving axles. Furthermore while a semi-elliptic leafspring only has been `shown and described it will `be understood that the invention contemplates any appropriate type of support composed of va plurality of plate members as a substitute rfor the semi-elliptic leaf .only one leaf spring has been shown in the assembly the invention contemplates employing two or more springs, if desired, disposed side by side either supported upon the same beam or upon separate beams, and similarly while only `one pair of helical springs is described others may be employed, if desired. In short various combinations of springs other than that'shown is contemplated as within the spirit of the invention.

The beam has been described as providing three spring seats, but it is within the purview of the invention to support the leaf spring by the journal box without the intervention of the beam, an orifice being provided in the bottom plate of the beam to 'permit such mounting, the 'beam being supported in such case by the journal box through engagement of the beam at its margin about the orifice and, unless otherwise particularly specified 1 stance the beam will still be supported by the axle, and in the preferred embodiments the beam is constructed as shown and described, wherein the leaf spring is supported by the bottom plate, for in such construction the weight imposed upon 'the leaf spring serves to firmly hold the beam upon its seat.

It will .therefore be understood that, while there have beenhereinbefore described approved embodiments of this invention, many and various changes and modifications in form, arrangement `of parts and details of construction thereof may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and that all such changes and modifilcations as fall within the scope ofthe appended V`claims are contemplated as a part of this invention.

The invention claimed and' desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a railway vehicle, a'wheeled axle; a loadsupporting frame construction; a leaf spring having its central portion disposedover said axle; two helical springs disposed one at each end portion of said leaf spring in vertical alignment therewith; seating means, carried by said axle and supporting each of said springs, supporting said helical springs `at the bottoms thereof and said leaf spring at the bottom thereof at its said central portion; and a hanger at each of said end portionsof said .leaf spring, extending through said helical spring adjacent thereto, supportingly connected at itslower end-portion with said frame construction, and supportedly engaged by said springs, by supporting engagement of its upper po-rtion by said adjacent helical spring at the top thereof and by supporting engagement by said endportion adjacent thereto of said leaf spring at the top thereof.

2.l In a railway vehicle, a wheeled axle; a loadsupporting frame construction; a leaf spring havingits central portion disposed over said axle; two helical springs disposed one at each end portion of said leaf spring in vertical alignment therewith; seating means carried by said axle and supporting said leaf spring at the bottom of said central portion thereof and having at each end a seat supporting said helical spring adjacent thereto at the bottom thereof; and a hanger at each of said end portions of said leaf spring extending through said helical spring adjacent thereto and through said seat adjacent thereto, supportingly connected -at its lower end portion with said frame construction, and supportedly engaged by `said springs, by supporting engagement of `its upper portion by said adjacent helical spring at the top thereof and by supporting engagement by said end portion adjacent thereto of said leaf spring at the top thereof.

In a railway vehicle,a wheeled axle; a loadsupporting frame construction; a journal box supported by said axle; a lead spring having its central portion disposed over said axle; two helical springs disposed one at each end portion of said leaf spring in vertical alignment therewith; a rigid beam supported at its central portion by said journal box, said beam having at its said central portion a seat supporting said leaf spring at the bottom of its said central portion, and having at each end a seat supporting said helical spring adjacent thereto at the bottom of said adjacent helical spring; and hanger means at each of said end portions of said leaf spring, supportingly connected at its lower end portion with said frame construction, and supportedly engaged by said springs, by supporting engagement of its upper portion by said adjacent helical spring at the top thereof and by supporting engagement by said end portion adjacent thereto of said leaf spring at the top thereof 4. In a railway vehicle, a wheeled axle; a loadsupporting frame construction; a journal box supported by said axle; a rigid beam, channelshape in transverse cross section, comprising a bottom plate and upstanding side plates providing a housing, said bottom plate being supported at its central portion by said journal box and having a seat at its said central portion and a seat at each of its end portions; a leaf spring having its central lower portion disposed in said housing and supported by said central seat; a. helical spring at each end of said leaf spring having its lower portion disposed within said housing and supported by said end seat adjacent thereto; and hanger means at each end of said leaf spring, supportingly connected at-its lower end portion with said frame construction, and supportedly engaged by said springs, by supporting engagement of its upper portion by said adjacent helical spring at the top thereof and by supporting engagement by said end portion adjacent thereto of said leaf spring at the top thereof 5. In a railway vehicle, a wheeled axle; a loadsupporting frame construction; a journal box supported by said axle; a leaf spring having its central portion disposed over said axle; two helical springs disposed one at each end portion of said leaf spring in vertical alignment therewith; a rigid beam having its central portion raised above its end portions, providing a seat at its said central portion, said beam at its said central portion being supported by said journal box, said seat supporting said leaf spring at the bottom of its said central portion, and said beam having at each end a seat supporting said helical spring adjacent thereto at the bottom of said adjacent helical spring; and hanger means at each of said end portions of said leaf spring supportingly connected at its lower end portion with said frame construction, and supportedly engaged by said springs, by supporting engagement of its upper portion by said adjacent helical spring at the top thereof and by supporting engagement by said end portion adjacent thereto of said leaf spring at the top thereof.

6. In a railway vehicle, a wheeled axle; a loadsupporting frame construction; a journal box supported by said axle; a rigid beam supported at its central portion by said journal box, having a seat at its central portion and at each of its end portions; a semi-elliptic leaf spring having its central portion supported on said central seat and the portions of its bottom at the opposite sides of said central portion diverging upwardly, providing a space between each end of said spring and the adjacent end of said beam; a helical spring supported on each of said end seats within said space adjacent thereto; and hanger means at each end of said leaf spring, supportingly connected at its lower end portion with said frame construction, and supportedly engaged by said springs, by supporting engagement of its upper portion by said adjacent helical spring at the top thereof and by supporting engagement by said end portion adjacent thereto of said leaf spring at the top thereof.

7. In a railway vehicle, a wheeled axle; a loadsupporting frame construction; a journal box supported by said axle; a rigid beam supported at its central portion by said journal box; means connecting said beam with said journal box to prevent horizontal displacement of said beam; a leaf spring having its central portion supported by said beam at said central portion of said beam; a helical spring supported by said beam at each end thereof; and hanger means at each end of said leaf spring, supportingly connected at its lower end portion with said frame construction, and supportedly engaged by said springs, by supporting engagement of its upper portion by said adjacent helical spring at the top thereof and by supporting engagement by said end portion adjacent thereto of said leaf spring at the top thereof.

8. In a railway vehicle, a wheeled axle; a loadsupporting frame construction; a journal box supported by said axle; a rigid beam having its central portion disposed above and in spaced relation with said journal box; a leaf spring having its central portion disposed above and in spaced relation with said central portion of said beam; a pair of coacting means within the first said space for supporting said beam by said journal box; a pair of coacting means within the second said space for supporting said spring upon said beam, said coacting means of at least one of said pairs being adapted for rocking relative movement therebetween; a helical spring supported by said beam at each end thereof; and hanger means at each end of said leaf spring, supportingly connected at its lower end portion with said frame construction, and supportedly engaged by said springs, by supporting engagement of its upper portion by said adjacent helical spring at the top` thereof and by supporting engagement by said end portion adjacent thereto of said leaf spring at the top thereof.

9. In a railway vehicle, a wheeled axle; a loadsupporting frame construction; a leaf spring having its central portion disposed over said axle and supported thereby; two helical compression springs disposed one at each end portion of said leaf spring; seating means, carried by said axle and extending therebeyond at each side thereof to each of said helical springs affording a seat therefor for supporting same at the bottom thereof and hanger means, one at each said end portion of said leaf spring, supportingly connected at its lower end portion with said frame construction, and supportedly engaged by said springs, by supporting engagement of its upper portion by said adjacent helical spring at the top thereof and by supporting engagement by said end portion adjacent thereto of said leaf spring at the top thereof.

ALFRED W. BRUCE. 

